The Hawaiian gazette., 1887-12-20
Sad Death of Ralph Sidney Smith.

The mail brings news of a tragic
death overtaking Mr.. Ralph S. Smith,
formerly well-known in Honolulu as
editor of the Saturday Press. On the
suspension of that paper Mr.. Smith
went to California, where lie was soon
heard of as editor of the San Mateo
Times and Gazette. His successful
work of a beneficial nature in that
capacity is highly spoken of by all the
San Francisco papers that we have
seen in their obituary sketches. He
had published an article Oh the dis
reputable doingS oil worthless fellow
named Powell. Hearing that Powell
had threatened to shoot him on sight,
Mr.. Smith, who declined the advice of
friends to arm himself, on meeting
Powell mentioned the rumor. Powell
replied very Extensively, and Smith
struck Intellectually at him, as Powell,
besides being taller man, stood on
the raised step of store. As Powell
struck back, Smith raised his UNI
brella, and Powell, rushing forward,
received n scratch on the cheek from
that implement. Then Powell drew
a pistol, and hurting Smith from him
fired, the bullet striking Smith in the
back, near the shoulder blade. Smith
recovered himself, and made a dash to
secure the pistol if possible, when
Powell fired again, striking him in the
thigh. As Smith was reeling to the
floor from weakness his antagonist
fired a third shot, but clerk in the
store where the tragedy occurred had
by this time seized Powell and de-
stroyed his aim. A fourth shot was
fired without effect as Smith lay on
the floor. But the first shot was fatal,
as Smith fingered only from the after
noon of Nov Goth until early the XeXt
morning He suffered greatly, but
bore his pain with cheerful bravery.
A disconsolate widow and little son
of three years, together with an aged
mother and a sister, mourn the I'M
timely death OF an atfectionate hus-
band, father, son and brother. The
article that instigated the crime reads
as follows:
Dr. s. :. Stasabaugh WIS once 4 popular
practitioner of this town. He Is still 4 prop
ert owner here, aud hu, done mnch to i'm
prov rn.j beantify the residence portion of
tire vlayr But he is 80 unfurtuuae as TO be
r. 'r--t..,i,..! here ~ y ~ IN. 10 - AT once
III. rmp-ri;r. unbusiuess-liKe, d.scourteous
who came her. about year ago with a big
story about starting a InanufactorY Of iron
fencing and of opening a superior dentistry
establishment. But who has been apparently
content to do nothing more considerable
than to walk the streets, collect few rents,
drink to the verge of intOxicatiou and abuse
his betters. Mrs. Willis, widow, one of the
most industrious and one of the most re-
spected women in the town, has for some
time leased house from DR.. Stambaugh,
paying the rent in advance to agent Powell.
This payment was rental in full, the owner
of the property paying for the water. Last
Monday the water was cut off, DR.. Powell
having refused to pay the town clerk an
overdue water bill already paid to Dr.. PoiceH
By Mrs. Wills as part Of her rent. In order
to have the water turned on again, Mrs.
Willis was obliged to pay the water rate and
the charge for turning the water on. 1t is of
course certain that DR.. S:t.lo ugh will reim-
burse Mrs. Willis. Bu, he cannot pay her
for the annoyance suffered; nor can DR..
Powell. If the person aforementioned can
show by words or acts that anything in this
paragraph has done him injustice, these col
umns or this office are open to him at any
time.
The late Mr. Smith although an
aggressive journalist always evinced a
friendly disposition toward confreres
of the press outside, and no matter
how warm the controversy in which
he differed with one, he was ready the
next day to cordially cooperate with
the same opponent in any matter upon
which they agreed. Nothing in a long
time has impressed us so mournfully
as the brutal assassination in his
prime of this sincere and talented
journalist.